In Houston at the Clash of the Titans event, Mark Micke, who has been dominating the Midwest Outlaw 10.5 scene, runs a 7.68 @ 180 mph in his 540 cid big block �68 Camaro, with a belt-driven F-3R. In related testing, Pat Musi goes on the dyno and produces 2306 hp, with 36 psi @ 8500 rpm and a moderate tune-up, with his 402 cid big block and chain driven F-3R. This nearly 6 hp/cid 402 motor is the powerplant for Ray Sanchez’s new ’99 Camaro. At a match race in Colorado at Bandimere, in the heat of summer with 10,700 feet of air, Donnie Walsh wins in impressive fashion and re-sets both ends of the doorslammer record at Bandimere. Donnie easily outruns Billy Glidden on all 3 passes, but redlit on 1 pass, handing 1 of 3 to Glidden.

In NMRA action at Route 66 Raceway, Don Walsh qualifies #1, resets the ET record, and wins once again with a 6.75 @ 210 mph. By doing so, Donnie virtually wraps up the 2003 NMRA Pro 5.0 championship, with 2 races still remaining. In Super Street Outlaw class, a phenomenal 5 ProCharged racers qualify in the 7’s, with 3 more running 8.00’s - 8.10’s. Mike Trimandilis once again leads the charge and qualifies #2 with a 7.89 @ 181 mph, while Carlo Catalanotto utilizes his F-3R to break in to the 7’s with a 7.91, and Don Shobe also posts his first SSO 7-second run with a 7.98 @ 180. Rounding out the group are past record holders Todd Fluman, with a 7.92, and Jim Blair, with a 7.95. Knocking on the door are Jim Dahl (8.07 ET), Billy Laksowski (8.09), and Steve Topletz (8.12, with previous best of 7.84). Congratulations to Donnie and this extremely strong group of SSO racers for another successful weekend.

In Fun Ford action at Norwalk, the Gillig/Huston team takes runner-up in Big Red III with their belt-driven F-3R, and expand their championship points lead. This dominating team has now has now reached the finals in five of six FFW Pro races this season. While testing in preparation for an upcoming event, Bill Rimmer runs a 6.69 @ 209 mph with an F-3M at over 2,800 lbs, in poor air. This is a historic feat, with his heavy weight and restricted blower (the F-3R is not allowed in NMRA Pro 5.0 competition).

At the PRO event in Cordova, Joel Greathouse runs a 7.41 ET with a lifted 182 mph (vs. his best of 193 mph) and qualifies #1. Despite his powertrain problems during the second round of eliminations, unable to bear the load of 2,000+ force-fed horsepower, Joel now has the points lead in Super Street. Despite being forced to compete with the restricted F-3M rather than a F-3R, Joel (a former NMCA Super Street champion) is on pace to claim his first PRO Super Street championship. At the same event, the Stomp/Pickering team debut a new Pro 5.0 car, and run a 6.91 @ 204 while shaking down their new combination, powered by a chain-driven ProCharger F-3M.

View 2003 Race Schedule